Maryam Qaasim (, ) is a Somali politician. She served as the Minister for Human Development and Public Services of

Somalia Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. The country is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, th ...

from November 2012 to January 2014. She is also the Chairperson of the Tayo Political Party. On 21 March 2017, she was appointed as the Minister of Humanitarian and Disaster Management by the Prime Minister

Hassan Ali Khaire Hassan Ali Khaire (or alternatively transliterated as Hassan Ali Khayre, , ; born April 15, 1967), in Wabxo Galguduud popularly known as Hassan Khaire, is a senior politician and is the former prime minister of Somalia. He was appointed on 23 ...

Background

Qaasim was born to a family from the Barwani ( Bravanese) clan. She is a medical doctor by training. Qaasim previously served as an obstetrician and gynaecologist, living and working in various places, including Somalia,

Yemen Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country in West Asia. Located in South Arabia, southern Arabia, it borders Saudi Arabia to Saudi Arabia–Yemen border, the north, Oman to Oman–Yemen border, the northeast, the south-eastern part ...

, the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

and the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

. Additionally, she was a university lecturer.

Political career

Transitional Federal Government

In a political capacity, Qaasim in 2010 acted as the Minister of Women's Development and Family Affairs in the

Transitional Federal Government The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) (, , ) was internationally recognized as a provisional government of the Somalia from 14 October 2004 until 20 August 2012. It was established in Nairobi, Kenya, following the Transitional National Govern ...

. She was a key part of Prime Minister

Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (, ; born March 11, 1962), also known as Farmaajo, is a Somali politician who served as president of Somalia from 2017 to 2022. He was Prime Minister of Somalia, prime minister of Somalia for six months, from Novembe ...

(Farmajo)'s Cabinet.

Tayo

On 2 April 2012, Qaasim was elected the Chairperson of the Tayo Political Party (TPP). It is a

Mogadishu Mogadishu, locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Ocean for millennia and has ...

-based political association that Farmajo had founded.

Federal Government of Somalia

Appointment

On 4 November 2012, she was named Minister of Social Development in the

Federal Government of Somalia The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS; , DFS; ) is the internationally recognised government of Somalia, and the longest running attempt to create a central government in Somalia since the collapse of the Somali Democratic Republic in 1991. It ...

by Prime Minister

Abdi Farah Shirdon Abdi Farah Shirdon (; ; born 1958) is a Somali businessman, economist and politician. He served as the prime minister of Somalia between October 2012 and December 2013. Shirdon is credited with having overseen significant development in social s ...

. Officially termed the Minister for Human Development and Public Services, Qaasim's portfolio combines the Education, Health, Labour, Youth & Sports and Women & Social Affairs dockets.

Health Sector Strategic Plans

In March 2013, the federal government under Minister of Health Qaasim launched the Health Sector Strategic Plans (HSSPs) for each of Somalia's constituent zones. The new national health system aims to provide universal basic healthcare to all citizens by 2016. While the government's institutional capacity is developing, UN agencies would in the interim through public-private partnerships administer immunization among other associated health programs. The HSSPs are valued at $350 USD million in total, with between 70%-75% earmarked for health services. Once finalized, the new national healthcare system is expected to ameliorate human capital in the health sector, as well as improve funding for health programs and overall health infrastructure.

End of term

Qaasim's term as Minister for Human Development and Public Services ended on 17 January 2014, when the Ministry was split to allow the creation of 6 cabinet positions. She was succeeded in these roles by Ahmed Mohamed Gurase as Minister of Education,

Duale Adan Mohamed Duale Adan Mohamed (, ) is a Somali politician. He served as the Minister of Culture and Higher Education of Somalia under Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed. Duale Adan Mohamed succeeded Maryam Qaasim when her post as Minister for Human Deve ...

as Minister of Culture and Higher Education, Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud as Minister of Health, Lugman Ismail Ali as Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Khadijo Mohamed Diriye as Minister of Women and Human Rights, and Khalid Omar Ali as Minister of Sports and Youth.

Minister of Humanitarian and Disaster Management

On the 21 March 2017, Prime Minister

announced that Dr.Maryan Qasim would hold the newly created post of Minister of Humanitarian and Disaster Management.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Qaasim, Maryam Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Government ministers of Somalia Women government ministers of Somalia 21st-century Somalian women politicians People from Mogadishu